#good ol reliable doggy paddle gets the job done

[pallanophblargh]

Are Pallanophs capable of swimming?

Also your stuff was randomly recommended to me and I spent hours going through your amazing art!

Pallanophs can swim well enough: I’d been pondering their ability for years (initially I’d thought they’d be poor/reluctant swimmers due to their muscle to fat ratio) but that just doesn’t sound like that would be the case. They do however still sit very low in the water and don’t fair well in any strong current, but they have long strong limbs to propel them and in riskier situations, they make rafts and floatation devices to aid crossings. I imagine they could use something akin to a body/boogie board as well so they don’t need to use as much energy to stay above water. They mostly employ strokes similar to the classic mammalian “doggy paddle.”

However, the density of pallanoph bodies does lend itself to diving and underwater swimming. It’s uncommon that they hunt this way as they’d lack both speed and stealth, but crustaceans/mollusks/vegetation would be gathered this way.

Mostly, pallanophs wade. They do love water; but are very cautious and understanding of dangerous conditions.

I’m sure I’m missing some details/thoughts/conclusions and I’m kind of blaming that on the fact that swimming isn’t my forte, I’m a bit of a rock myself.

#pallanophs #pallanoph questions #sketchbook #creature design #swimming #good ol reliable doggy paddle gets the job done #I wanted to give them my weakness haha #having arboreal ancestors makes it a little tricky but they retain those instincts #I have two modes backfloat or underwater swim #pallanophs have better lung capacity than I do so they got that going for them